I think drafters/designers are a very valuable asset. They look at a project from a different perspective than an engineer. Typically, an engineer takes a myopic view of a design and misses the bigger picture. A drafter provides a second set of eyes to catch errors and fit the individual design...
From experience, I know that tension only bracing actually performs as expected.
I did a post earthquake inspection of an industrial building designed as tension only bracing. It was obvious from the stretching that 1/2 of the diagonals were in significant tension while the other half were...
As an old engineer, I would like to add my opinion of women in engineering.
I have worked with many women engineers over the years. Nearly all of them were excellent engineers - smart, hard working, well educated and creative. A few were fantastic. And, almost all of them got out of...
Terratek,
I am very concerned and you should be too.
I realize that anyone can make a mistake anytime. Bad things happen to good people.
I don't want to risk my savings in the event something happens. I want all the "insurance" I can get.
Even though the chance of your house burning down is...
GerryBertier,
In simple form:
XYZCorporation agrees to hold harmless and indemnify any Professional Engineer from any and all liability, including all cost of defense, arising out of the performance of their professional services performed for XYZCorporation.
I have had these in place with...
Don't assume that just because your employer is insured, that you are insured.
If a project ends up in litigation, the injured party AND your employer can sue you for damages. It has happened.
ALWAYS get an indemnify, defend and hold blameless agreement with your employer. And, make sure they...
Don't assume that if you work for a corporation as an engineer your assets are shielded from lawsuits.
I had an experience similar to zdas04. I worked for a huge (multi-billion dollar) international company. My boss asked me to P.E. stamp some drawings for the company. I asked for a standard...
I have seen the same situation. Many clients want drawings stamped for insurance purposes. By stamping a drawing, you are accepting financial responsibility for everything on the drawing no matter what. If there are errors, the engineer has financial responsibility. The fact that he/she is an...
I would like to add to Ron's comment. Make sure the company's insurance is adequate to cover the risk of the projects your company performs. Also make sure that the insurance has a "tail". This means that you are covered even if the insurance is later canceled or the company goes out of...
I would like to address the original question of P.E. stamping engineering drawings where the designs and the drawings are produced in another country.
The main reason an engineer should never do this is that most likely this is illegal and therefore, also unethical. All the states I know of...
I think many of you have it wrong.
A medical doctor is not a medical doctor until he or she serves a residency, passes the tests and is licensed.
A veterinarian is not a veterinarian until he or she has serves a residency, passes the tests and is licensed.
A lawyer is not a lawyer until he...
The purpose of requiring a Masters Degree, as I see it, is two-fold:
It provides a higher minimum of engineering education.
It raises the entry barrier to a P.E.
I received a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering with a Structural emphasis. An undergraduate degree in Civil covers a...
I would tell anyone who is thinking about going into Civil Engineering to think again.
If I had it to do over again, I think I would go into medicine. I encouraged all three of my kids to go into medicine and they did. They have far better pay and much more respect.
Civil (particularly...
I've been an engineer for 35 years. My personal suggestion is to discourage engineering and encourage him to go into medicine. Your son seems smart and intelligence sets someone apart in any profession.
My children are: Physician's Assistant, Pharmacist and Doctor. Needless to say they have a...
Side jobs can expand the knowldge base of engineers by allowing the pursuit of a variety of projects.
Side jobs build a synergy. Talents learned at either job can be applied to both your main employment and your part time job. The end result is that you become a better engineer and everyone...
